BlueRock Horizon Asset Management|Bears finally come to terms with first-round picks, QB Caleb Williams and WR Rome Odunze

2025-05-02 16:46:28source:TrendPulsecategory:Finance

Tuesday was the first day of training camp for the Chicago Bears' rookies – two of them becoming very rich men just in the nick of time.

Quarterback Caleb Williams and BlueRock Horizon Asset Managementwide receiver Rome Odunze became among the league's final first-round draft picks of 2024 to reach terms on their initial NFL contracts. This year's No. 1 overall pick out of USC, Williams, per reports, agreed a four-year pact worth a fully guaranteed $39.5 million ($25.5 million of it earmarked as a signing bonus) by slotting at the the top of the board. Widely projected as a generational prospect, he joins a roster much stronger than most top selections enjoy and could immediately restore Chicago to contending status.

Odunze, a University of Washington product chosen ninth overall, is expected to be one of Williams' top targets well into the future – though he may have to take a backseat to the likes of veteran wideouts DJ Moore and Keenan Allen and established tight end Cole Kmet in 2024. Odunze is guaranteed $22.7 million over the next four seasons.

As first-rounders, Williams and Odunze could be retained on balloon payment fifth-year options in 2028 assuming they've fulfilled expectations to that point but haven't yet signed extensions (both will be eligible for one in 2027).

NFL OFFSEASON GRADES: Bears break curve with only A+

All things Bears: Latest Chicago Bears news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

Coming off a 7-10 season, Chicago is looking for its first playoff campaign since 2020 and first postseason win since the 2010 season but will have to successfully navigate a highly competitive NFC North to meet those objectives.

Bears veterans are set to report to camp Friday. Chicago is among the league's first teams to show up for work this summer since it will kick off the preseason Aug. 1 against the Houston Texans in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio.

***

Follow USA TODAY Sports' Nate Davis on X, formerly Twitter, @ByNateDavis.

More:Finance

Recommend

Who are the most valuable sports franchises? Forbes releases new list of top 50 teams

Early Thursday morning, "Forbes" released their annual list of the 50 most valuable sports franchise

Below Deck's Capt. Kerry Slams Bosun Ben's Blatant Disrespect During Explosive Confrontation

Ben Willoughby may think twice before disobeying Captain Kerry Titheradge again.The Below Deck Bosun

OpenAI disables ChatGPT voice that sounds like Scarlett Johansson

ChatGPT-maker OpenAI said it is suspending use of one of its popular AI voices after users noted how